A statue of one of St. Paul's most famous sons was stolen from the capital city earlier this month, police say.

The author was born in St. Paul in 1896 and attended St. Paul Academy, which was then on Dale Street just off Summit Avenue. A statue of a young Fitzgerald, with books on his lap, usually sits on the side of the stairs leading to the front door.

The St. Paul Police Department is investigating the suspected theft of an F. Scott Fitzgerald statue that has stood outside the former St. Paul Academy for nearly 20 years.

The bronze statue of The Great Gatsby author has been at 25 North Dale Street since 2006 and was sculpted by Aaron Dysart.

The statue, which had been located on the steps to the Academy Professional Building, was last known to be there on Feb. 3, police said.